Every college student has been there; it’s Sunday night and you just realized that you have much more homework for the next week than you thought you did. You end up panicking and stressing for most of the night and nothing ends up getting done. So you ask, what is the trick for balancing your school life and your social life? Giving up either seems unimaginable and unwanted. Obviously everyone knows school is supposed to come first; we all pay a crazy tuition bill to go to the school we love. Throwing away an incredible opportunity for a great education seems foolish and juvenile. However, at the same time spending all your time on school work can make you go crazy!
Everyone needs to have a social life along with a school life. Extracurricular clubs not only look great on a resume, but they help you discover a lot about yourself. You can learn what it is that you are passionate about in life and also what you can succeed at in the future. Also setting aside time for hanging out with friends is crucial; spending time with your friends helps you relax, which in turn recharges your battery. In reality, no one can do homework forever. We all need a break once in a while to have a good time. Here are a few ways that you can have a social life without flunking out of school.
- Don’t stress! Not stressing out or getting tense is the most important thing when it comes time to get things done. When you are relaxed and at ease, you are more likely to get that checklist accomplished.
- Make a schedule.Staying organized and on top of your assignments and commitments can get tricky when you have so much stuff going on. That’s why it’s important to take time to make time. Instead of having one planner, grab two; the first planner can be one where you keep track of your homework assignments and important class dates while the other can be for scheduling in time for club meetings and fun events with your friends.
- Find a good study spot.Finding a good spot to study on campus can be harder than it seems. Sometimes studying in your room can make you unproductive and unfocused. Instead try switching up study spots by studying somewhere new like the library or a local coffee shop.
- Prioritize.Prioritizing your calendar of events can be important when there is so much to get done. Make sure you spend time on what’s important first, like your exam in French coming up next week. Once you have studied for that, go ahead and make that new flier for your next club meeting. Organizing your assignments based on what’s most urgent helps get things done not only quicker but also on time.
- Sleep.Sleep is the most paradoxical concept for college students. We all know the importance of getting eight hours of sleep at night, and if it was up to us we would be getting those eight hours every night. Unfortunately, being a college student taking an insane amount of credits and participating in outside clubs, robs you of sleep. As hard as it may seem, sometimes we have to make ourselves put everything down and go to bed earlier. This is especially important when we have a busy day ahead of us full of exams and presentations.
- Exercise and eat healthy. Getting proper exercise and eating the right foods can actually make you feel more awake and energized. When you exercise you release endorphins which make you feel good. These can come handy when you’re trying to cram for your morning exam!
- Pencil in some free time. Finding some free time during a hectic day can be really tough. Sometimes it’s easier to write it down in your schedule, that way you know you can’t miss it. You might find it nicer to schedule a lunch date with a friend when you both have it written down in your calendars; this way, nothing comes up that makes you reschedule your hangout.
- Know when to say NO!Knowing when to say no to people can perhaps be the most useful tip of all. A lot of times we find ourselves trying to be Superman or Superwoman; we want to get our homework done, study for our exam, go out for our friend’s birthday and finish making that collage for our wall. Getting all of these things done in one night just seems unrealistic. Set goals that are within reach; know what your limits are and don’t cross them. If a friend asks you to help them on a homework assignment or an organization asks you to come volunteer, don’t feel bad if you have to say no. Whoever it is will understand that just like everyone else you have a busy schedule full of demanding classes and as much as you would love to help out, you simply can’t.